Analysis of phase noise effects in OFDM modems

The effects of the phase noise (PN) on orthogonal frequency-division multiplex modems are evaluated. Three receivers are studied: a coherent receiver, a common phase error correction receiver (which is a receiver specially designed to combat PN) and a differential receiver. The impact of the PN on the decision signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each of these receivers is computed as a function of the PN spectrum. The resulting formulas are extremely simple. The theory is applicable to a wide range of PN models, and unifies and extends previous results on the topic. The conditions under which the decision SNR yields correct symbol error rate predictions are discussed. Simulations are reported that confirm the results.